CO-Horts

CO-Horts

Friday, October 18, 2013

Tempted by the Cutting Edge?

Posted by Tony Koski, CSU Extension

In the past few months I’ve received a bunch of calls
and emails about a “revolutionary” (the company’s words) product – CuttingEdge grass
seed. I had never heard of this stuff. I’ve been asked…”What is in it?”… “Should
I buy it?”….”Is it better than what I have now?”…. “Isn’t it just grass seed?”….
and “It sounds too good to be true…Can it really be that good?”. Beyond what they found on the company website,
people could find no information on it anywhere on the Internet. So I did what
we do in Extension: I tried to find out what I could – especially any research-based
information.

Surprisingly, I could find little on this product as well –
except on the company website (www.cuttingedgegrass.com).
One look and I understood why all of the
questions. This stuff is incredible! It (Cutting Edge Grass Seed) not only has “unique
characteristics that revolutionize the way grass seed and turf management is
viewed today.”, but it is “one of the most environmentally responsible grass
seed mixes sold anywhere in the world.”. Those are pretty big claims? But…wait… there
is more! A lawn planted to this grass could allow you to STOP (their emphasis) “constant”
(their word) watering, fertilizing and mowing. It will grow roots up to 48
inches deep. It is salt resistant, endophyte-enhanced, self-repairing, grows in
sun or shade, and is resistant to gray leaf spot. It comes with an
OMRI-approved “hydration and mycorrhiza” coating. You can even earn points
towards LEED Certification by planting it (intriguing, though that link was
dead). Wow! Amazing! I’ve got to try it!

Just as I was about to click that big red “Order Now” button
that promised an extra FREE 1 pound bag (Well…free, except for more shipping
and handling…) if I bought 1 pound, a thought crept into my head: what IS this
stuff? I scoured the flashy (and really slow) website. All I could find was
that it is a “patent-pending mix of Kentucky bluegrass and other top-performing
seed.”.Hmmm…now I’m suspicious. And
annoyed. Really annoyed. I hate it when a company won’t say what is in their product –
especially when it’s required by law.

Instead of the “Order Now” button, I clicked “Contact” and
dialed the information number. I got a live, knowledgeable, friendly person – Kristin
– who answered all of my questions. (Disclaimer: I told her up front that I was
gathering information for this blog) I asked what, besides Kentucky bluegrass,
was in the mix (I was told perennial ryegrass, hard fescue, Chewings fescue,
and tall fescue). When I asked about cultivar/variety names, Kristin said the
company doesn’t reveal those. I asked if the mix contained VNS seed (stands for
“variety not stated”), and was told “yes, it is VNS seed”. Ahhh...the reason
they can’t tell you the cultivars – because they are not sure of what those
cultivars are! To be fair, VNS is not always “bad seed”; it CAN be very good
seed, in fact. But buying VNS seed is like ordering “running shoes” from Zappos
and not being able to specify size, brand, style, or color. You will get running
shoes, but will they fit your feet, fit your needs – will they be what you
want? Kristin also kindly sent me a sample label for one of their seed lots
(the seed lots will differ slightly, she told me, depending on where in the
country you order your CuttingEdge seed).

The company recommends a seeding rate of 4 pounds per 1000
square feet – which is about 1.6 pounds of seed (because of the coating on the
seeds…which is about 60% of the total weight). This would be a low rate for
bluegrass alone, much less for the larger-seeded rye and fescues (which
comprise about 80% of the seed in this mix). To end up with a turf of
acceptable density using this product, it should be seeded at a rate of 12-15
pounds of the coated seed per 1000 square feet – not 4 pounds.

To seed 1000 square feet, using the company’s recommended
seeding rate, it would cost about $40 (if you buy the 10 lb. professional kit;
about $72 if you buy the one pound bags). To seed at a rate that would give any
chance of producing good quality turf, it would cost about 3-4 times as much
($120-280….to seed 1000 square feet of turf!).

If you were to instead buy a comparable seed mix
(bluegrass/fine fescues, or bluegrass/ryegrass) from a reputable local seed
company like Pawnee Buttes Seed (http://www.pawneebuttesseed.com/seed-list/mixes/)
and seed at a rate of 6 pounds of seed per 1000, it would cost $12-18 dollars
for seed.

Though it’s possible that the VNS seed sold by CuttingEdge
is of good quality, the product cost (quite high) and recommended
seeding rate (quite low) make this product an unwise buy. And the idea of mixing
grass species like bluegrass, ryegrass and fescues is far from “cutting edge”
or revolutionary – much less a patentable one. It’s far wiser – both agronomically
and economically – to purchase seed of excellent quality and known cultivars
from a local, reputable seed company. You will know what you are purchasing,
get the best quality seed, and won’t have buyer’s remorse later. It may not
seem sexy or cutting edge, but it’s smart. CuttingEdge grass seed: another case
of “If it sounds too good to be true….”

2 comments:

Why don't you test the product instead of writing a blog on a product that you have never tested? That would make more sense for people to understand what the product is and why it is better or worse than other other than your opinion with no facts. I have heard of many positive reviews on this product from different universities and sod farms who actually tested it. I would suggest you do the same. It's kind if like me writing a blog about you without ever meeting you. Right?

I found your blog when I was looking for a different sort of information but I was very happy and glad to read through your blog. The information available here is great. . I know something information, to know you can click here Mowing Brisbane pressure cleaning brisbane